Probability Card Game

Being able to guess the likelihood of an event is a useful skill and this probability card game is the perfect way to learn it! In order to determine the likelihood of an event happening you must understand probability. Although it can be a tricky concept, the most important thing to emphasize is that probability is all about chances. What's more, it's a fundamental math concept that your child will encounter again and again. She might as well get a firm handle on it now.

What You Need:

Deck of playing cards

Scratch paper (1 sheet per player)

Pencil (1 sheet per player)

What You Do:

Have your child take out the ace through 6 cards of each suit, and set the rest of the cards to the side. (There will be 24 cards in total used to play the game.)

Ask her with 24 cards and 4 aces, what is the probability of an ace being drawn? Since 1/6th of the cards are aces, the chances are 1 in 6.

Have her spread the 24 cards out on the table face down.

One player should take a turn picking up 6 cards and writing down how many aces he's drawn.

Shuffle the cards and spread them out for the next player to choose from. Repeat this process for every player.

Ask the players to discuss their results. Did anyone beat the odds? Who selected more than one ace?

Whoever has the highest score after round 10 wins!

Variation: Try adding more cards and see how it changes the probability.

ByEllen Dean

Updated on Jul 7, 2014

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